Dear friends & neighbors:

Just like January, Rancho Mirage's calendar of events offers a February full of charitable, entertaining, cultural and educational events to keep us on our toes.

With a festival of writers, a 5K for Desi, a free day at the ballpark, the year of the Rabbit, a big phat band, a town hall forum, art tours and sports legends, there's bound to be something for everyone!

Keep reading to find out more about managing your entertainment calendar so you won't miss a thing.

Rancho Mirage Writers Festival - February 1-3, 2023
“Brave New World: The Future is Now”

The Rancho Mirage Writers Festival (RMWF) is a world-class gathering of the finest writers who contribute to the intellectual vitality of our time. The RMWF welcomes 60 authors and 1,000 readers from around the globe to the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory each January.

Although tickets for this year's festival are sold out, you will never miss a session thanks to the RMWF expert audiovisual team. All Festival sessions are filmed and can be watched for free from the comfort of your own home. All sessions will be available to watch on RMWF’s YouTube channel and on Rancho Mirage Television (RMTV-Channel 14) within two weeks of the Festival.

Thanks to the generous support of the Auen Foundation, Sherrie and Ron Auen and Catharine Reed for underwriting the videotaping of all Festival sessions. Thanks to their support, people from all over the world can enjoy all of the Festival sessions!

You can also check out the Rancho Mirage Writers Festival Writers Series for events coming up in March. Visit their website at rmwritersfest.org for details.

Support the Fight Against Cancer

The City is a long-time supporter and sponsor of the Desi Strong Foundation and we are thrilled to once again host the Fifth Annual Run/Walk 4 Kids at Rancho Mirage Community Park.  

The Run/Walk 4 Kids is an all day, fun filled, family event. Admission into the event is free with a minimal donation requested to participate in the festivities.

Create a team, join a team, or run or walk the 5K, making friends along the way. Just show up and show your support by registering here.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this extraordinary cause, there are various levels of sponsorship available for the 5K and Kids Fun Run. Click here to become a sponsor.

Rancho Mirage Community Park is located at 71560 San Jacinto Drive in Rancho Mirage.

Spend a Day at the Ballpark on Us!
Rancho Mirage Resident Day

If spending your Saturday watching baseball is more your speed, why not spend the day at Palm Spring Stadium? The best part, it won't cost you a thing since February 4th is the city-sponsored Rancho Mirage Resident day at the ballpark! 

Enjoy free admission to the game, a hamburger or hotdog, bag of chips and soda or water for you and your family (up to 4 children per adult). Proof of residency is required.

The City knows the importance of supporting local athletics and if we can provide our residents with free family entertainment, we are happy to combine the two so everybody wins! Let's hope the PS Power follows suit on Saturday, February 4, 2023!

There are two chances to take advantage of an awesome day of Power baseball - morning or afternoon!

10:00 a.m. | Toronto Rush vs. Palm Springs Chill
12:30 p.m. | Oregon Lumberjacks vs. Palm Springs Power

Celebrate The Year of the Rabbit

I'm am excited to tell you all about a new event coming to The River at Rancho Mirage on Saturday, February 11, 2023. The first annual Lunar Festival!

The River and the Rancho Mirage Cultural Commission have teamed up with Panana Events to put on this cultural event honoring the Year of the Rabbit. Festivities will include live music, vendors, lion dancers, children's craft station, and more celebrating Asian arts and culture and is free to the public.

The Lunar New Year is one of the more important holidays in the Asian culture. The Chinese New Year celebrates the first day of the first month on the Chinese calendar. The dates according to the Western calendar of the Chinese New Year move each year, but always land between January 21st and February 20th. Each year has an animal associated with it, representing the 12 months of the year. Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig, Rat, and the Ox.

Come and celebrate the Year of the Rabbit, a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity at The River located at 71800 Highway 111 on Saturday, February 11th, from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The only event of its kind in the area, it is not to be missed!

Rancho Mirage Emergency Preparedness Commission
Town Hall Forum - Earthquake Insurance: Financial Strength to Rebuild Your Home & Community

The mission of the Rancho Mirage Emergency Preparedness Commission (EPC) is to motivate every person, business, and organization in the City of Rancho Mirage to take actions that reduce future disaster damages and enhance disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

One way the EPC helps motivate and educate citizens about disaster preparedness is to offer free events such as the upcoming Town Hall Forum.

On Wednesday, February 15, the Chief Executive Officer of the California Earthquake Authority, Glenn Pomeroy, will speak about available options to help you and your community recover successfully from the next major earthquake.

This free event will be held at the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory locate at 71100 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage. There will be a champagne reception at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation will begin at 6:00 p.m. Registration is not required.

For more information, visit the EPC's webpage at RMReady.org.
City-Sponsored Performances at McCallum Theatre
The City of Rancho Mirage proudly sponsors performances at the McCallum Theatre. Through this sponsorship, residents can enjoy high-quality entertainment and cultural events at discounted prices.

On Wednesday, February 15 at 7:00 p.m., the award-winning Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band will perform a combination of big band swing of the 1930s and 1940s with contemporary music such as funk and jazz fusion.

Rancho Mirage residents with ID can purchase discounted tickets for this City-sponsored performance for $70, $50, or $30.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit mccallumtheatre.com or call the box office at (760) 340-2787.

Click here for McCallum Theatre's Covid-19 Safety Policy.

Speaker Series Continues in February with Emmitt Smith
If you missed the opening Speaker Series event featuring hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, you still have two more opportunities to experience the 2023 Legends of Sports Speaker Series.

My wife Becky and I (pictured here with The Great One, Wayne Gretzky) really enjoyed the first of three speaker series events and are looking forward to Emmitt Smith this month and Sugar Ray Leonard in March. Hope to see you all there!

On February 21st, we welcome Emmitt Smith — the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. The former Dallas Cowboy is a three-time Super Bowl champion and holds the record for career rushing touchdowns. After retiring from football, Smith successfully transitioned to the dance floor – winning Dancing with the Stars’ mirror ball trophy.

Click here to purchase Emmitt Smith Tickets

Get your tickets now for Legendary Boxing Icon, Bestselling Author, and Founder of the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation, Sugar Ray Leonard on Tuesday, March 21.
Click here to purchase Sugar Ray Leonard Tickets

Visit RMSpeakerSeries.com for all details.

Blood Drive

Throughout the year the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory partners with LifeStream to host community blood drives. Donating blood is easy, it's informative, and most of all, saves lives.

LifeStream Blood Bank is a local, nonprofit blood bank that provides blood products and services to more than 80 southern California hospitals and medical facilities in six counties.

LifeStream cares about the health and wellness of our community. Each blood donor receives a mini-physical prior to donation, and information on maintaining a healthy diet, which is essential for a successful blood donation.
The next Lifestream Blood Drive will be on February 24, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the community room of the Rancho Mirage Library and Observatory located at 71100 Hwy. 111 in Rancho Mirage.

To learn more and sign-up in advance, visit lstream.org or call (800) 979-4484.
Rancho Mirage Blood Drive

Mark those calendars

Mark sure to add these important dates to your February calendars!

PS Power Baseball on 2/4
Desi Strong 5K on 2/4
Valentine's Day 2/14
Watch for 2023 RMWF sessions on their Youtube channel in mid-February.
City Hall will be closed on Monday, 2/20 in observance of Presidents' day
Rancho Mirage Speaker Series - Emmitt Smith on 2/21
Donate blood on 2/24 at the RM Library and Observatory

Please do not hesitate to reach out either by email at [email protected], or by phone at (760) 324-4511 with your ideas or suggestions.